T Party Express: So Long, Mr. Selfish

The T Party Express is chugging through the Valley of Deep Thoughts. Don't worry - we'll be out of here in no time.

The act of denying yourself or dying to self is necessary for submission to God's will. Putting your partner first is also an important element in a happy marriage. My marriage deteriorated so quickly since July because one spouse plunged willfully into an extremely selfish fantasy phase, thus renouncing every pledge he made to God and to his wife, leaving said wife with a bad case of spiritual and emotional whiplash. I can only imagine how God feels.

The good news is that, after I engaged in what politicians call opposition research, I got my STBX (soon to be ex-husband) to admit what was he is doing in his parallel universe. I am by nature a dogged troubleshooter and problem solver. Exhausted by his lies, I finally put all the clues and tidbits of information together to understand why my STBX changed 180 degrees in such a short time and where it is leading him.

Can you say plop-plop-fizz-fizz? I have done what I can to safeguard his soul, albeit with no apparent success, and am no longer transporting his numerous burdens on the T Party Express. I dumped them at the intersection of Mommy Issues and Self Delusion.

My faith in the act of denying yourself is steadfast as ever. Two of my favorite Contemporary Christian Music songs explain the concept better than I can.

Chris Sligh is the most talented American Idol contestant in 8 years never to make the top 5. He was my season 6 favorite and is building a solid career as a singer/songwriter in the Christian, country and pop crossover genres. His composition Empty Me explains how even the perks of fame are no substitute for God.



So Long Self by Mercy Me is a hopping, rocking tune that covers the same territory, but it contains one of my favorite lyrics that applies to my situation. Heh.

Don't feel so bad (don't feel so bad)
There'll be better days (there'll be better days)
Don't go away mad (but by all means)
Just go away, go away

Previous stops:

Here's Where the Story Ends by the Sundays (1990).

Broken by Lighthouse (2009).

God Shaped Hole by Plumb (1999).

The Thrill Is Gone by B.B. King (1970).

Love and Regret by Deacon Blue (1989).

Real Gone Kid by Deacon Blue (1989).

My Book by the Beautiful South (1990).

A Little Time by the Beautiful South (1990).

Your Ex-Lover Is Dead by Stars (2005).

This Woman's Work by Kate Bush (1989).

Love Will Tear Us Apart by Joy Division (1980).

Reptile by the Church (1988).

Accidents Will Happen by Elvis Costello (1979).

Tears Run Rings by Marc Almond (1987).

Killing Moon by Echo and the Bunnymen (1984).

Love Lies Bleeding by Elton John (1973).

Last Time Forever by Squeeze (1985).

Conjure Me by the Afghan Whigs (1992).

Debonair by the Afghan Whigs (1993).

Hallelujah by Jason Castro (2009).

Total Recall by the Sound (1985).

Fly by Jars of Clay (2002).

Train in Vain by the Clash (1980).

It's My Life by Talk Talk (1984).

T Party Express: Sundays on Sunday

It's Sunday and it's too Novemberish to eat a sundae, so let's listen to the Sundays instead.

Here's Where the Story Ends transports me back to 1990 and a relationship that supposedly ended the previous summer, except that a certain someone wouldn't commit to leaving or staying. I cranked it up whenever he was around.

He got the message but chose to ignore it.

Still, this is a lovely, forlorn little song from the transitional period between New Wave and Alternative. Enjoy.



Previous stops:

Broken by Lighthouse (2009).

God Shaped Hole by Plumb (1999).

The Thrill Is Gone by B.B. King (1970).

Love and Regret by Deacon Blue (1989).

Real Gone Kid by Deacon Blue (1989).

My Book by the Beautiful South (1990).

A Little Time by the Beautiful South (1990).

Your Ex-Lover Is Dead by Stars (2005).

This Woman's Work by Kate Bush (1989).

Love Will Tear Us Apart by Joy Division (1980).

Reptile by the Church (1988).

Accidents Will Happen by Elvis Costello (1979).

Tears Run Rings by Marc Almond (1987).

Killing Moon by Echo and the Bunnymen (1984).

Love Lies Bleeding by Elton John (1973).

Last Time Forever by Squeeze (1985).

Conjure Me by the Afghan Whigs (1992).

Debonair by the Afghan Whigs (1993).

Hallelujah by Jason Castro (2009).

Total Recall by the Sound (1985).

Fly by Jars of Clay (2002).

Train in Vain by the Clash (1980).

It's My Life by Talk Talk (1984).

T Party Express: Broken but Not Broke Down

Broken is the latest single by Lifehouse. I prefer the original below to the official radio version.

Lifehouse has a knack for penning lyrics that have crossover appeal, working in the secular as well as sacred sense. My SBTX (soon to be ex-husband) relates to the story of a wretched sinner who lost his way. We are all like Humpty Dumpty after the fall. If we are lucky or wise, we understand that the world cannot put us back together again.

The broken clock is a comfort, it helps me sleep tonight
Maybe it can stop tomorrow from stealing all my time
I am here still waiting though i still have my doubts
I am damaged at best, like you've already figured out

I'm falling apart, I'm barely breathing
With a broken heart that's still beating
In the pain is there is healing
In your name I find meaning
So I'm holdin' on, I'm holdin' on, I'm holdin' on
I'm barely holdin' on to you

The broken locks were a warning you got inside my head
I tried my best to be guarded, I'm an open book instead
I still see your reflection inside of my eyes
That are looking for a purpose, they're still looking for life

I'm falling apart, I'm barely breathing
with a broken heart that's still beating
In the pain is there is healing
In your name I find meaning
So I'm holdin' on, I'm holdin' on, I'm holdin' on
I'm barely holdin' on to you

I'm handin' on another day
Just to see what you will throw my way
And I'm hanging on to the words you say
You said that I will be ok

The broken lights on the freeway left me here alone
I may have lost my way now, haven't forgotten my way home

God Shaped Hole by Plumb mirrors Broken in its message and availability in alternate versions, albeit in a snappier, bouncier way. The song was first featured on the soundtrack of Bruce Almighty, but a 2010 retake is getting some radio airplay. Here is the original.



Previous stops:

The Thrill Is Gone by B.B. King (1970).

Love and Regret by Deacon Blue (1989).

Real Gone Kid by Deacon Blue (1989).

My Book by the Beautiful South (1990).

A Little Time by the Beautiful South (1990).

Your Ex-Lover Is Dead by Stars (2005).

This Woman's Work by Kate Bush (1989).

Love Will Tear Us Apart by Joy Division (1980).

Reptile by the Church (1988).

Accidents Will Happen by Elvis Costello (1979).

Tears Run Rings by Marc Almond (1987).

Killing Moon by Echo and the Bunnymen (1984).

Love Lies Bleeding by Elton John (1973).

Last Time Forever by Squeeze (1985).

Conjure Me by the Afghan Whigs (1992).

Debonair by the Afghan Whigs (1993).

Hallelujah by Jason Castro (2009).

Total Recall by the Sound (1985).

Fly by Jars of Clay (2002).

Train in Vain by the Clash (1980).

It's My Life by Talk Talk (1984).

T Party Express: The November 2009 Election Edition

The T Party Express question of the day: What do Obama and I have in common?

We will return to our regular programming tomorrow.




Previous stops:

Love and Regret by Deacon Blue (1989).

Real Gone Kid by Deacon Blue (1989).

My Book by the Beautiful South (1990).

A Little Time by the Beautiful South (1990).

Your Ex-Lover Is Dead by Stars (2005).

This Woman's Work by Kate Bush (1989).

Love Will Tear Us Apart by Joy Division (1980).

Reptile by the Church (1988).

Accidents Will Happen by Elvis Costello (1979).

Tears Run Rings by Marc Almond (1987).

Killing Moon by Echo and the Bunnymen (1984).

Love Lies Bleeding by Elton John (1973).

Last Time Forever by Squeeze (1985).

Conjure Me by the Afghan Whigs (1992).

Debonair by the Afghan Whigs (1993).

Hallelujah by Jason Castro (2009).

Total Recall by the Sound (1985).

Fly by Jars of Clay (2002).

Train in Vain by the Clash (1980).

It's My Life by Talk Talk (1984).

T Party Express: Deacon Blues Edition

The T Party Express continues to celebrate music coming out of the U.K. in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Yesterday we enjoyed selections from the Beautiful South, a British band that featured rotating vocals among two male and one female vocalist.

Deacon Blue was a Scottish pop band that gained a large regional following on the strength of its energetic live performances. Deacon Blue is often confused with Prefab Sprout, a British quartet from the same era that we will explore tomorrow. Both groups featured a male lead backed by a prominent female vocalist – in Deacon Blue's case, the husband and wife team of Ricky Ross and Lorraine McIntosh. Their wonderful 1989 album When the World Knows Your Name hit #1 in the U.K., due in no small part to its tales of bittersweet love and hard luck, including Love and Regret and Real Gone Kid.





Deacon Blue took their name from the epic Steely Dan ode to the spoils of romantic loss. When did lead singer Donald Fagen turn into Ray Charles?




Previous stops:

My Book by the Beautiful South (1990).

A Little Time by the Beautiful South (1990).

Your Ex-Lover Is Dead by Stars (2005).

This Woman's Work by Kate Bush (1989).

Love Will Tear Us Apart by Joy Division (1980).

Reptile by the Church (1988).

Accidents Will Happen by Elvis Costello (1979).

Tears Run Rings by Marc Almond (1987).

Killing Moon by Echo and the Bunnymen (1984).

Love Lies Bleeding by Elton John (1973).

Last Time Forever by Squeeze (1985).

Conjure Me by the Afghan Whigs (1992).

Debonair by the Afghan Whigs (1993).

Hallelujah by Jason Castro (2009).

Total Recall by the Sound (1985).

Fly by Jars of Clay (2002).

Train in Vain by the Clash (1980).

It's My Life by Talk Talk (1984).